Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 Pranams. Sashtang namaskarams Sada-ji for sharing your personal sadhana in detail, which I am sure will help and inspire so many of the readers. Far be it for me to give any advice to anyone, but as this is an important topic I am happy to share some advice which I have been imparted by my Guru and have personally found useful. 1. Dealing with relationships. I think the number one problem for everyone is dealing with relationships. One is forced to dealing with people as a active member of society. And unfortunately and always suprisingly people do not behave the way you want them to. They do not to your value structure, your priorities, your viewpoints. And guess what - this is precisely the way " they " feel about " you " !! What does this mean? Who we are, our thoughts, our personas, are shaped by a million factors - my vasanas, my upbringing, my parents, my environment, my education, and so on. How then do deal with people I am forced to deal with who may not be on my wavelength without allowing my emotions to get me carried away. These could include my spouse, my children, my parents, my in-laws, my work-colleagues(boss, employer, employee, etc), my friends, etc Method one is acceptance. This is often misunderstood to be martyrdom. The former is cowardice, unhealthy and constitutes violence to oneself. Acceptance is a mature and pragmatic approach to life. Try to achieve an objective viewpoint about your situation. The first step is to try and understand the other person's standpoint - believe it or not there always IS one! Understand that the way the other person behaves or talks is exactly how you or anyone would have behaved had you been in the exact same position, with the exact same baggage, - why? Because human behavior is also part of the very-same infallible Order. (Of course in the heat of battle this understanding may be impossible, hence withdraw from the scene if possible and reflect on the situation in a more calm frame of mind.) This attitude of understanding builds compassion, empathy and most importantly objectivity. Try to see how you could change to better align yourself with this person's wavelength without compromising on your own ethics and integrity. Also see where you could be less judgemental about the other person. One cardinal rule- you can never change another person, never ever. Only the other person can change himself and that too ONLY when he perceives a value in that change. So reinforce this rule in your own mind - nothing that I do or say is ever going to effect one iota of change in this person - the one ane only consequence of such a misguided effort on my part will be fostering agitation in my own mind. After an objective analysis try to change either your own attitudes, or expectations, or the circumstances contributing to the problem. If this is not successful, pray. " O Lord grant me the strength and capacity to change what I can change, and the fortitude to endure what I cannot and the wisdom to know the difference! " Method 2 is role-play. Compatmentalize your entire life into roles. Just like a Bachan or a De Niro carries every role with such conviction, constantly and prior to every action remind yourself of which role you are currently being asked to play. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile kuntimaddi sadananda <kuntimaddisada Wed, 8 Aug 2007 16:48:35 To:advaitin ] Re: Advaita practice --- Srinivas Nagulapalli <srini_nagul@ <srini_nagul%40> > wrote: Srinivas - PraNams First, thanks for your kind words. I suggest, as I do in my Giita class, for everyone to do daily prayers, first thing in the morning and last thing in the night. Feel the Lord's presence in you and in everybody around you and in those who you encounter during your transactions. This is more important particularly with those you are angry or frustrated with. When you start recognizing His presence, your interactions with others also change slowly. Second, see the beauty in everything as His reflected beauty. You start seeing things, that otherwise escape your attention and you become more and more sensitive in your transactions. Sometimes in the busy transactions we forget the essence and give importance to the superficial qualities - to the forms and the names. That is O.K. But the moment you are back to yourself - bring the Lord in and project his presence everywhere. Third, whenever you are doing mechanical things, for example walking etc let your mind not run (generally it runs to past or future where you have your attachments). You cannot get rid of attachments by any means other than being aware of them. I suggest my students as a part of spiritual exercise - to freeze the thoughts every time see where your mind has been - those are the places where it is attachments. I am not referring to when you are intensively working, but when you are freely wondering, your mind also wonders. Objective thinking is not a problem. Problem is when the mind is 'wool-gathering' that is going from one thought to the other thought and thus going around the whole world of attachments. Second problem is when the mind is intensely aware of ego-tistical problems - how could he/she do it? How can he insult me? etc. This is called mind-buildup. This is more dangerous mind and people become neurotic. This is where the mind gets entrapped. Only way to overcome these is to sit back and project the presence of the Lord in those people with whom you are angry. His presence nullifies all these negative thoughts. These are for everybody not necessarily for those who are retired. Sometime retired are more worried than those who are actively working since they have more free time to worry - remember 'baalastaavat kreeDaa saktaH, taruNasthaavat taruNii saktaH, vRiddhasthaavat chintaa saktaH, parame brahmani kopinasaktaH?' Best way to bring the Lord in your life, is to do naama smaraNa. Chant the name of the Lord, and try to see Him every where and in everything. Advaitic understanding that Lord is everywhere and in everything helps - Yo maam pasyati sarvatra, sarvan ca mayi pasyati, tasyaaham na praNasyaami, sa ca me na praNasyati. --- Putran Maheshwar <putranm (AT) (DOT) <putranm%40> com> wrote: > > Please also include how you control your > internet/forum time, and potential desires that if > not > properly guided, the mind can get caught in and > overdo. My standard method is all or nothing; I find > it difficult to keep a satisfactory midway point on > these things. > > thollmelukaalkizhu Shree Putran Maheshwar - The best way I found is what is taught as part of any management techniques. Prioritize in your mind -every day - things that you have to do. Include in that list - study of scriptures and Meditation as part of daily activity. Have determination to follow- even if the mind slacks occationally- do not worry, but make sure you follow regourously the sadhana. Allow the mind to indulge once in a while but with you watching the mind. Following the priorities automatically pushes the others into the back ground. This way one can positively have the mind under control. Only way to control the mind from indulging in desires is to turn the mind higher. 'Rasa varjam rasopyasya param dRishhTvaa nivartate' - the taste for things will not go even if one physically avoids them, but by turning the mind to higher, the mind can withdraw from lower' - that is the advise of Krishna. That is also called vairagya. Krishna says - two things are important - abhyaasa and vairaagya - practice and detachement from lower (this detachment from lower comes by attaching to higher)- that is the law. Hope this helps. Hari Om! Sadananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 > Shree Putran Maheshwar - > Prioritize in your mind -every day - things that you > have to do. Include in that list - study of > scriptures > and Meditation as part of daily activity. Have > determination to follow- even if the mind slacks > occationally- do not worry, but make sure you follow > regourously the sadhana. Sri Sadaji, thanks for these pointers. I used to be very good at this, but for some reasons, am no longer as good. I found that maintaining rigour in the times of waking/sleeping is crucial; but lately am not doing this which disrupts the whole day. Do still keep rigorously a couple of prayer/meditation routines morning and evening. Everything else is in chaos (it is more of an interim stage). It was a definite spiritual path that gave the conviction to abide in it; I am looking to nail down the path to follow. > Only way to control the mind from indulging in > desires > is to turn the mind higher. 'Rasa varjam rasopyasya > param dRishhTvaa nivartate' - the taste for things > will not go even if one physically avoids them, but > by > turning the mind to higher, the mind can withdraw > from > lower' - that is the advise of Krishna. That is also > called vairagya. Krishna says - two things are > important - abhyaasa and vairaagya - practice and > detachement from lower (this detachment from lower > comes by attaching to higher)- that is the law. > This is definitely true. The conviction in a spiritual path and redirecting all focus to the proposed End frees the mind of all attachments (or at least, the typical desires, including the taste for them). Know this from experience, when my End was Shiva-Parvathi in a very mythological sense. That is the easy path if one can believe/accept as path (!); only if it gets unsettled, we get into trouble looking for a more suitable version. I think the real reason a person finds settlement in practice is because they have found settlement in the chosen path and perhaps its proposed end. Sri Clarkeji, thanks for your input as well. I realize that many can coordinate this internet properly; not that I do arbitrary running around but just the religion sites seem a menace! Hopefully, that will settle. At present, I am into the argument thing not so much to prove my convictions, rather to find the definitive opinions of the Shankara sampradaya. I accept the direction and don't mind making the acceptance of the goal as part of the path (i.e. like acceptance of the conclusions of the Vedas). Ofcourse, I am also a fan of Sri Ramana; in fact, one can give quotations from him along the lines of the drishti-shrishti-vada that Sri Rameshji was mentioning (don't ask what; so I think I read !). Yet I countered him, not because I oppose Sri Ramana (or the Sringeri acharya) but because that is a way to understand in depth and not be misled by words. It is " important " for advaitins to resolve (if possible) the apparently conflicting ways of expression by the acharyas and gurus of various sub-traditions. thollmelukaalkizhu ______________________________\ ____Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on TV. http://tv./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 Pranams. Sashtang namaskarams Sada-ji for sharing your personal sadhana in detail, which I am sure will help and inspire so many of the readers. Far be it for me to give any advice to anyone, but as this is an important topic I am happy to share some advice which I have been imparted by my Guru and have personally found useful. Topic 1. Dealing with relationships. I think the number one problem for everyone is dealing with relationships. One is forced into dealing with people as a active member of society. And unfortunately (and seemingly always!) suprisingly people do not behave the way you want them to. They do not to your value structure, your priorities, your viewpoints. And guess what - this is precisely the way " they " feel about " you " !! What does this mean? Who we are, our thoughts, our personas, are shaped by a million factors - my vasanas, my upbringing, my parents, my environment, my education, and so on. How then do deal with people I am forced to deal with who may not be on my wavelength without allowing my emotions to get me carried away. These could include my spouse, my children, my parents, my in-laws, my work-colleagues(boss, employer, employee, etc), my friends, etc Method one is acceptance. This is often misunderstood to be martyrdom. The former is cowardice, unhealthy and constitutes violence to oneself. Acceptance is a mature and pragmatic approach to life. Try to achieve an objective viewpoint about your situation. The first step is to try and understand the other person's standpoint - believe it or not there always IS one! Understand that the way the other person behaves or talks is exactly how you or anyone would have behaved had you been in the exact same position, with the exact same baggage, - why? Because human behavior is also part of the very-same infallible Order as everything in the Cosmos. Why you are you and no one else and why you are where you are and no where else and why you are how you are and no how else is exactly and completely applicable to the very other person you are dealing with, and is exactly as it was " meant to be " (Of course in the heat of battle this understanding may be impossible, hence withdraw from the scene if possible and reflect on the situation in a more calm frame of mind.) This attitude of understanding builds compassion, empathy and most importantly objectivity. Try to see how you could change to better align yourself with this person's wavelength without compromising on your own ethics and integrity. Also see where you could be less judgemental about the other person. One cardinal rule- you can never change another person, never ever. Only the other person can change himself and that too ONLY when he or she perceives a value in that change. So reinforce this rule in your own mind - nothing that I do or say is ever going to effect one iota of change in this person - the one ane only consequence of such a misguided effort on my part will be fostering more tempests of agitation in my own mind. After an objective analysis try to change either your own attitudes, or expectations, or the circumstances contributing to the problem. If this is not successful or sufficient, pray. " O Lord grant me the strength and capacity to change what I can change, and the fortitude to endure what I cannot and the wisdom to know the difference! " And most importantly be understanding of the one person who is likely to be your only companion till he or she dies - your self! Being self-judgemental instead of being self-analytical is also a sure recipe for mental tribulations. Method 2 is role-play. Compatmentalize your entire life into roles. Just like a Bachan or a De Niro carries every role with such conviction, constantly and prior to every action remind yourself of which role you are currently being asked to play. Understand and be very clear about your overall goal. Self-knowledge. When you start your day with a prayer always remind yourself that all that you will be called to do today, all your interactions, are your offerings to the Supreme- just as we chant when ending the daily Sandhya ritual - karomi yad yad sakalam parasmai Narayana yeti samarpayami. So if I am interacting with a errant son, let me act, and not react. Let me fulfil the role with full conviction, let my emotions not get me too carried away lest I forget myself in the role. So if a particular role at a particular time calls on me to play a " bad cop " , then I do that with de-liberation. Not as a knee-jerk angry or upset reaction but as a matter-of-fact aware action. This way I am better able to switch between roles. I move from studio A where I play a beggar to studio B where I play a King to studio C where I play a dying patient to studio D where I play a brave soldier. My make-up my costumes and my lines all have to change. And so it is from employee-me to husband-me to son-me to father-me and so on. The only me that is a constant is the devotee-me and so have His name on your lips as often as you can remember to. Also, remember that only by rubbing against metal does a knife get sharpened, only by burning in fire does a coal become a diamond. If everyone was loving and caring and not being a pain-in-the-neck, would you have a ghost of a chance at self-development?? So be grateful not only to Ishwara but also to those very people who are aggravating you that they are very much present in your life and what's even better - they are not going to go away anytime soon, nor are they going to change their ways!!. So with aggravation upon mounting aggravation do you truly get to practice shama, practice kshama, fathom the depths of your own fortitude and forebearance, discover how (un)attached you truly are to your own feelings, and emotions. Imagine yourself in a solitary forest - how would you possibly evolve? And how would you mark your progress? And in return for this huge favor these individuals are bestowing upon you, what are they going to get in return ( if they are adharmic?). - nothing but future pain and suffering as their karmaphala. Is it right then on your part to get angry with them? Swamiji gives a wonderful example by drawing a line on a board. Without an eraser how can you make this line smaller? Draw a bigger line next to it!. If we draw a big line of self-realization next to these so many small lines consisting of the various roles that we are called to play then we gain a very valuable and useful commodity for our sadhana - and that is Perspective. I shall conclude this labyrynthine post at this juncture and shall move to topic 2 which I (very appropriately!) Shall title Vak tapas or Austerity of the tongue in my next. Hari OM Shri Gurubhyo namah Shyam Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile kuntimaddi sadananda <kuntimaddisada Wed, 8 Aug 2007 16:48:35 To:advaitin ] Re: Advaita practice --- Srinivas Nagulapalli <srini_nagul@ <srini_nagul%40> > wrote: Srinivas - PraNams First, thanks for your kind words. I suggest, as I do in my Giita class, for everyone to do daily prayers, first thing in the morning and last thing in the night. Feel the Lord's presence in you and in everybody around you and in those who you encounter during your transactions. This is more important particularly with those you are angry or frustrated with. When you start recognizing His presence, your interactions with others also change slowly. Second, see the beauty in everything as His reflected beauty. You start seeing things, that otherwise escape your attention and you become more and more sensitive in your transactions. Sometimes in the busy transactions we forget the essence and give importance to the superficial qualities - to the forms and the names. That is O.K. But the moment you are back to yourself - bring the Lord in and project his presence everywhere. Third, whenever you are doing mechanical things, for example walking etc let your mind not run (generally it runs to past or future where you have your attachments). You cannot get rid of attachments by any means other than being aware of them. I suggest my students as a part of spiritual exercise - to freeze the thoughts every time see where your mind has been - those are the places where it is attachments. I am not referring to when you are intensively working, but when you are freely wondering, your mind also wonders. Objective thinking is not a problem. Problem is when the mind is 'wool-gathering' that is going from one thought to the other thought and thus going around the whole world of attachments. Second problem is when the mind is intensely aware of ego-tistical problems - how could he/she do it? How can he insult me? etc. This is called mind-buildup. This is more dangerous mind and people become neurotic. This is where the mind gets entrapped. Only way to overcome these is to sit back and project the presence of the Lord in those people with whom you are angry. His presence nullifies all these negative thoughts. These are for everybody not necessarily for those who are retired. Sometime retired are more worried than those who are actively working since they have more free time to worry - remember 'baalastaavat kreeDaa saktaH, taruNasthaavat taruNii saktaH, vRiddhasthaavat chintaa saktaH, parame brahmani kopinasaktaH?' Best way to bring the Lord in your life, is to do naama smaraNa. Chant the name of the Lord, and try to see Him every where and in everything. Advaitic understanding that Lord is everywhere and in everything helps - Yo maam pasyati sarvatra, sarvan ca mayi pasyati, tasyaaham na praNasyaami, sa ca me na praNasyati. --- Putran Maheshwar <putranm (AT) (DOT) <putranm%40> com> wrote: > > Please also include how you control your > internet/forum time, and potential desires that if > not > properly guided, the mind can get caught in and > overdo. My standard method is all or nothing; I find > it difficult to keep a satisfactory midway point on > these things. > > thollmelukaalkizhu Shree Putran Maheshwar - The best way I found is what is taught as part of any management techniques. Prioritize in your mind -every day - things that you have to do. Include in that list - study of scriptures and Meditation as part of daily activity. Have determination to follow- even if the mind slacks occationally- do not worry, but make sure you follow regourously the sadhana. Allow the mind to indulge once in a while but with you watching the mind. Following the priorities automatically pushes the others into the back ground. This way one can positively have the mind under control. Only way to control the mind from indulging in desires is to turn the mind higher. 'Rasa varjam rasopyasya param dRishhTvaa nivartate' - the taste for things will not go even if one physically avoids them, but by turning the mind to higher, the mind can withdraw from lower' - that is the advise of Krishna. That is also called vairagya. Krishna says - two things are important - abhyaasa and vairaagya - practice and detachement from lower (this detachment from lower comes by attaching to higher)- that is the law. Hope this helps. Hari Om! Sadananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 Pranams. Sashtang namaskarams Sada-ji for sharing your personal sadhana in detail, which I am sure will help and inspire so many of the readers. Far be it for me to give any advice to anyone, but as this is an important topic I am happy to share some advice which I have been imparted by my Guru and have personally found useful. Topic 1. Dealing with relationships. I think the number one problem for everyone is dealing with relationships. One is forced into dealing with people as a active member of society. And unfortunately (and seemingly always!) suprisingly people do not behave the way you want them to. They do not to your value structure, your priorities, your viewpoints. And guess what - this is precisely the way " they " feel about " you " !! What does this mean? Who we are, our thoughts, our personas, are shaped by a million factors - my vasanas, my upbringing, my parents, my environment, my education, and so on. How then do deal with people I am forced to deal with who may not be on my wavelength without allowing my emotions to get me carried away. These could include my spouse, my children, my parents, my in-laws, my work-colleagues(boss, employer, employee, etc), my friends, etc Method one is acceptance. This is often misunderstood to be martyrdom. The former is cowardice, unhealthy and constitutes violence to oneself. Acceptance is a mature and pragmatic approach to life. Try to achieve an objective viewpoint about your situation. The first step is to try and understand the other person's standpoint - believe it or not there always IS one! Understand that the way the other person behaves or talks is exactly how you or anyone would have behaved had you been in the exact same position, with the exact same baggage, - why? Because human behavior is also part of the very-same infallible Order as everything in the Cosmos. Why you are you and no one else and why you are where you are and no where else and why you are how you are and no how else is exactly and completely applicable to the very other person you are dealing with, and is exactly as it was " meant to be " (Of course in the heat of battle this understanding may be impossible, hence withdraw from the scene if possible and reflect on the situation in a more calm frame of mind.) This attitude of understanding builds compassion, empathy and most importantly objectivity. Try to see how you could change to better align yourself with this person's wavelength without compromising on your own ethics and integrity. Also see where you could be less judgemental about the other person. One cardinal rule- you can never change another person, never ever. Only the other person can change himself and that too ONLY when he or she perceives a value in that change. So reinforce this rule in your own mind - nothing that I do or say is ever going to effect one iota of change in this person - the one ane only consequence of such a misguided effort on my part will be fostering more tempests of agitation in my own mind. After an objective analysis try to change either your own attitudes, or expectations, or the circumstances contributing to the problem. If this is not successful or sufficient, pray. " O Lord grant me the strength and capacity to change what I can change, and the fortitude to endure what I cannot and the wisdom to know the difference! " And most importantly be understanding of the one person who is likely to be your only companion till he or she dies - your self! Being self-judgemental instead of being self-analytical is also a sure recipe for mental tribulations. Method 2 is role-play. Compatmentalize your entire life into roles. Just like a Bachan or a De Niro carries every role with such conviction, constantly and prior to every action remind yourself of which role you are currently being asked to play. Understand and be very clear about your overall goal. Self-knowledge. When you start your day with a prayer always remind yourself that all that you will be called to do today, all your interactions, are your offerings to the Supreme- just as we chant when ending the daily Sandhya ritual - karomi yad yad sakalam parasmai Narayana yeti samarpayami. So if I am interacting with a errant son, let me act, and not react. Let me fulfil the role with full conviction, let my emotions not get me too carried away lest I forget myself in the role. So if a particular role at a particular time calls on me to play a " bad cop " , then I do that with de-liberation. Not as a knee-jerk angry or upset reaction but as a matter-of-fact aware action. This way I am better able to switch between roles. I move from studio A where I play a beggar to studio B where I play a King to studio C where I play a dying patient to studio D where I play a brave soldier. My make-up my costumes and my lines all have to change. And so it is from employee-me to husband-me to son-me to father-me and so on. The only me that is a constant is the devotee-me and so have His name on your lips as often as you can remember to. Also, remember that only by rubbing against metal does a knife get sharpened, only by burning in fire does a coal become a diamond. If everyone was loving and caring and not being a pain-in-the-neck, would you have a ghost of a chance at self-development?? So be grateful not only to Ishwara but also to those very people who are aggravating you that they are very much present in your life and what's even better - they are not going to go away anytime soon, nor are they going to change their ways!!. So with aggravation upon mounting aggravation do you truly get to practice shama, practice kshama, fathom the depths of your own fortitude and forebearance, discover how (un)attached you truly are to your own feelings, and emotions. Imagine yourself in a solitary forest - how would you possibly evolve? And how would you mark your progress? And in return for this huge favor these individuals are bestowing upon you, what are they going to get in return ( if they are adharmic?). - nothing but future pain and suffering as their karmaphala. Is it right then on your part to get angry with them? Swamiji gives a wonderful example by drawing a line on a board. Without an eraser how can you make this line smaller? Draw a bigger line next to it!. If we draw a big line of self-realization next to these so many small lines consisting of the various roles that we are called to play then we gain a very valuable and useful commodity for our sadhana - and that is Perspective. I shall conclude this labyrynthine post at this juncture and shall move to topic 2 which I (very appropriately!) Shall title Vak tapas or Austerity of the tongue in my next. Hari OM Shri Gurubhyo namah Shyam Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile kuntimaddi sadananda <kuntimaddisada Wed, 8 Aug 2007 16:48:35 To:advaitin ] Re: Advaita practice --- Srinivas Nagulapalli <srini_nagul@ <srini_nagul%40> > wrote: Srinivas - PraNams First, thanks for your kind words. I suggest, as I do in my Giita class, for everyone to do daily prayers, first thing in the morning and last thing in the night. Feel the Lord's presence in you and in everybody around you and in those who you encounter during your transactions. This is more important particularly with those you are angry or frustrated with. When you start recognizing His presence, your interactions with others also change slowly. Second, see the beauty in everything as His reflected beauty. You start seeing things, that otherwise escape your attention and you become more and more sensitive in your transactions. Sometimes in the busy transactions we forget the essence and give importance to the superficial qualities - to the forms and the names. That is O.K. But the moment you are back to yourself - bring the Lord in and project his presence everywhere. Third, whenever you are doing mechanical things, for example walking etc let your mind not run (generally it runs to past or future where you have your attachments). You cannot get rid of attachments by any means other than being aware of them. I suggest my students as a part of spiritual exercise - to freeze the thoughts every time see where your mind has been - those are the places where it is attachments. I am not referring to when you are intensively working, but when you are freely wondering, your mind also wonders. Objective thinking is not a problem. Problem is when the mind is 'wool-gathering' that is going from one thought to the other thought and thus going around the whole world of attachments. Second problem is when the mind is intensely aware of ego-tistical problems - how could he/she do it? How can he insult me? etc. This is called mind-buildup. This is more dangerous mind and people become neurotic. This is where the mind gets entrapped. Only way to overcome these is to sit back and project the presence of the Lord in those people with whom you are angry. His presence nullifies all these negative thoughts. These are for everybody not necessarily for those who are retired. Sometime retired are more worried than those who are actively working since they have more free time to worry - remember 'baalastaavat kreeDaa saktaH, taruNasthaavat taruNii saktaH, vRiddhasthaavat chintaa saktaH, parame brahmani kopinasaktaH?' Best way to bring the Lord in your life, is to do naama smaraNa. Chant the name of the Lord, and try to see Him every where and in everything. Advaitic understanding that Lord is everywhere and in everything helps - Yo maam pasyati sarvatra, sarvan ca mayi pasyati, tasyaaham na praNasyaami, sa ca me na praNasyati. --- Putran Maheshwar <putranm (AT) (DOT) <putranm%40> com> wrote: > > Please also include how you control your > internet/forum time, and potential desires that if > not > properly guided, the mind can get caught in and > overdo. My standard method is all or nothing; I find > it difficult to keep a satisfactory midway point on > these things. > > thollmelukaalkizhu Shree Putran Maheshwar - The best way I found is what is taught as part of any management techniques. Prioritize in your mind -every day - things that you have to do. Include in that list - study of scriptures and Meditation as part of daily activity. Have determination to follow- even if the mind slacks occationally- do not worry, but make sure you follow regourously the sadhana. Allow the mind to indulge once in a while but with you watching the mind. Following the priorities automatically pushes the others into the back ground. This way one can positively have the mind under control. Only way to control the mind from indulging in desires is to turn the mind higher. 'Rasa varjam rasopyasya param dRishhTvaa nivartate' - the taste for things will not go even if one physically avoids them, but by turning the mind to higher, the mind can withdraw from lower' - that is the advise of Krishna. That is also called vairagya. Krishna says - two things are important - abhyaasa and vairaagya - practice and detachement from lower (this detachment from lower comes by attaching to higher)- that is the law. Hope this helps. Hari Om! Sadananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2007 Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 I am resuming my post - this more of a random recollection of advice imparted by Pujya Guruji Swami Paramarthananda-ji which I am reproducing to the best of my memory - any deficits may please be ascribed to my memory. I shall echo Shri Sada-ji's sentiment - if this proves useful to even one individual then its purpose is served by Ishwara's grace. Topic 2 Vak Tapas The human tongue has twin traits that can and do frequently trip up a vedantic student - Taste and Talk Taste - is amongst the most powerful and addicting of all the sense, and humans are a unique species whose eating is tied in more to the tongue than to their needs. Obesity as we know it is hence unique to humans. Why is this relevant for a seeker? Overindulgence in food promotes tamas, and encourages sloth. And enemy number one for spiritual progress is sloth. If we examine our eating habits, we eat at anytime, we eat to pass time, we eat without necessarily being hungry, we rarely pay attention to the actual act of eating, and generally combine eating with talk, or television. Food is the only sense-organ interaction we have that is internalized into our very body- and hence offers us a opportunity to modify our behavior by developing more awareness to it. First of all, be aware of your hunger. Most of the time we have no idea what " hunger " really means. We simply have a " urge to eat " . For this the custom of fasting is extremely useful. Every religion in the world encourages fasting as a sadhana and Hinduism is of course no exception - in fact in our culture you can pretty much fast on any given day and you can be sure it will have some religious significance. Ekadashi and Pradosham (incidentally today) hold special significance to many devout Hindus and are a good place to start as they occur only fortnightly. As an aside there are health benefits to fasting as well but that is not relevant here. One notices a heightened sense of self-awareness during a fast. The mind is also less likely to run riot during a fast. As the day progresses past the numerous time cues we traditionally associate with our coffee breaks, lunch, etc we really start becoming more aware of hunger as a sensation. During those instances, we can " practice " self-awareness by closing ones eyes and the consciousness that is illumining this sensation, this metabolic or fuel generator we call the human body, its internal life-energy, and a tremendous overwhelming sense of gratitude to the Supreme who has taken care to ensure the sustenance of it. Once we recognize with practice what our tru hunger is we can automatically realize that it is simply a " dis " -ease of the body that needs a cure in the form of food. And how much food is needed should be what is sufficient to control it- in fact a good rule of thumb is to eat only half of what you estimate will " fill you " and drink water to fill-in another quarter leaving a quarter for air. Before the meal there is a traditional chant - either the popular sloka from the BG " Brahmarpanam brahmahavih...... " Or " pranaya swaha.,vyanaya svaha..etc " If these are chanted with a strong emphasis in the mind of their significance then the very act of eating becomes a spiritual advaitic exercise - awarenes or Ishwara is the eater, the eating, and the eaten, and subsequently Ishwra is also the digestion and assimilation( " aham vaishvaanaro bhootva " ) of the eaten. In summary, limit your food to only what is mimimally essential, be mindful of its content, and conver the act of eating into an exercise in simple awareness, and give your body a periodic rest with regular fasts. Of course like with all other spiritual disciplines, the difficulty is in the doing, and esp more so for food- most Masters will openly acknowledge that taste is the most trying obstacle to overcome even for a advanced seeker. Which only reinforces the necessity of at least starting this discipline early. The other major indulgence of the tongue is perhaps just as difficult to control and also perhaps where many of us have diffulty maintaining an appropriate level of discriminatory conservation - and that is our speech. I shalll continue this into my next post. Hari OM Shri Gurubhyo namah Shyam Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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